[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
discussing when the lovemaking began.
It did not require a great leap for Gina to reach the conclusion that Dominick had learned
something of vital importance, something to do with the plot against Charles. He'd told her several
times that he must have irrefutable evidence against the nobles involved before he could go to the
king with what he knew. Gina thought Charles should have been alerted as soon as they reached
Regensburg, so he could be on guard against attack, but she wasn't going to second-guess
Dominick. He knew more about the workings of Frankish society, and more about the character of
the king, than she did. If Dominick said Charles would demand proof, then he was probably right.
But they were supposed to be working together to find that all-important evidence. He owed her an
explanation. She was hurt that he hadn't offered one, especially after she had told him everything
she had been able to learn during her day at the palace.
He wasn't going to do any explaining while he lay
sleeping in her arms. She ran her fingers through his hair, and Dominick sighed. He briefly
tightened his hold on her, then relaxed again. She'd have to wait until morning to confront him with
her conclusions. In the meantime, she ought to get some rest.
She was just beginning to drift off when Dominick stirred. Slowly, cautiously, he slid out of her
embrace and lifted himself off the bed.
So stealthy were his movements that Gina came instantly awake, though she pretended to be
asleep. The only light in the chamber was the star glow from the night sky beyond the unshuttered
window, so as long as she kept her eyes closed, she didn't think Dominick could tell that she was
aware of what he was doing.
She heard him pull on his tunic and trousers and then his boots. She knew when he picked up his
sword belt and the cloak he'd tossed down on his clothing chest upon returning from the palace
hours earlier. She had thought the act odd, for Dominick was a neat man and usually put his
belongings away after he used them. Now she knew he had wanted the cloak easily available
because he was planning to sneak out.
He paused to look down at her, and Gina lay perfectly still, scarcely daring to breathe. When his
lips touched her forehead in a brief kiss, she longed to grab him and demand to know what he
was doing and where he was going. But she knew he wouldn't tell her. He would offer an excuse,
perhaps even make love to her again to shut her up. Then he'd wait until she really was asleep,
and he'd sneak out and do whatever it was he was planning.
Without her. After lying to her.
She wasn't going to let him get away with it. She was going to follow him and find out what he was
up to.
She got out of bed and went to the window just in time to see his tall figure walk away from the
house. Dominick wasn't heading directly for the palace. He had chosen a street that would take
him past the palace and past at least a dozen houses of noblemen. He could be planning to stop
at any of those houses.
Gina sped to her own room, stopping there just long enough to throw a woolen gown over her
head. She had barely thrust her arms through the sleeves when she was pulling on and tying her
shoes and snatching up her dark cloak.
She knew better than to leave Dominick's house by the front door. If she tried, she'd have to deal
with the guard posted there, who was sure to ask questions about Dominick's guest going out
alone so late at night. She'd lose too much time, and Dominick would be gone before she could
get away from the house, assuming the guard was even willing to let her leave.
She hurried toward the back door, lifting a key from its hook as she passed through the kitchen.
Then she was racing out to the walled area behind the house, where the bathhouse was, and the
gardener's toolshed, and the door to the stable, which had its main entrance onto an alley at the
far end of the property. Along one side of the backyard lay a kitchen garden, and there was a door
in the wall, used by the gardener to bring supplies in and carry refuse out.
Gina halted only once, to be sure neither Benet
or the other groom who slept in the stable, nor any of the men-at-arms, were awake. Hearing no
sound of anyone coming to see who was in the garden, she fitted the key into the door and pulled
it open. There was no squeaking of hinges; Dominick's house was beautifully maintained.
Thinking she might need to return in a hurry, Gina left the key in the door, pulling it almost shut
behind her.
She stood in the dark, quiet road until her vision, already adjusted to the night, detected a
movement in the direction Dominick had taken. She set out after him, keeping to the darkest
shadows, being as quiet as she possibly could and praying she wouldn't run into any late-night
carousers.
Chapter Thirteen
The road Dominick had taken slanted slightly upward, leading away from the river. Only a few
people were out so late at night. A couple of drunken men in workers' clothing lurched across the
road ahead of Gina. She halted, worried that she'd have to make a detour around them, thus
possibly losing Dominick, who was moving rapidly through the dark. But Charles kept the town in
good order. A watchman accosted the workers and bundled them off with stern admonitions
about drinking too heavily. Gina waited only a moment or two before hurrying onward to where the
road opened into a large open square in front of the church of St. Peter. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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discussing when the lovemaking began.
It did not require a great leap for Gina to reach the conclusion that Dominick had learned
something of vital importance, something to do with the plot against Charles. He'd told her several
times that he must have irrefutable evidence against the nobles involved before he could go to the
king with what he knew. Gina thought Charles should have been alerted as soon as they reached
Regensburg, so he could be on guard against attack, but she wasn't going to second-guess
Dominick. He knew more about the workings of Frankish society, and more about the character of
the king, than she did. If Dominick said Charles would demand proof, then he was probably right.
But they were supposed to be working together to find that all-important evidence. He owed her an
explanation. She was hurt that he hadn't offered one, especially after she had told him everything
she had been able to learn during her day at the palace.
He wasn't going to do any explaining while he lay
sleeping in her arms. She ran her fingers through his hair, and Dominick sighed. He briefly
tightened his hold on her, then relaxed again. She'd have to wait until morning to confront him with
her conclusions. In the meantime, she ought to get some rest.
She was just beginning to drift off when Dominick stirred. Slowly, cautiously, he slid out of her
embrace and lifted himself off the bed.
So stealthy were his movements that Gina came instantly awake, though she pretended to be
asleep. The only light in the chamber was the star glow from the night sky beyond the unshuttered
window, so as long as she kept her eyes closed, she didn't think Dominick could tell that she was
aware of what he was doing.
She heard him pull on his tunic and trousers and then his boots. She knew when he picked up his
sword belt and the cloak he'd tossed down on his clothing chest upon returning from the palace
hours earlier. She had thought the act odd, for Dominick was a neat man and usually put his
belongings away after he used them. Now she knew he had wanted the cloak easily available
because he was planning to sneak out.
He paused to look down at her, and Gina lay perfectly still, scarcely daring to breathe. When his
lips touched her forehead in a brief kiss, she longed to grab him and demand to know what he
was doing and where he was going. But she knew he wouldn't tell her. He would offer an excuse,
perhaps even make love to her again to shut her up. Then he'd wait until she really was asleep,
and he'd sneak out and do whatever it was he was planning.
Without her. After lying to her.
She wasn't going to let him get away with it. She was going to follow him and find out what he was
up to.
She got out of bed and went to the window just in time to see his tall figure walk away from the
house. Dominick wasn't heading directly for the palace. He had chosen a street that would take
him past the palace and past at least a dozen houses of noblemen. He could be planning to stop
at any of those houses.
Gina sped to her own room, stopping there just long enough to throw a woolen gown over her
head. She had barely thrust her arms through the sleeves when she was pulling on and tying her
shoes and snatching up her dark cloak.
She knew better than to leave Dominick's house by the front door. If she tried, she'd have to deal
with the guard posted there, who was sure to ask questions about Dominick's guest going out
alone so late at night. She'd lose too much time, and Dominick would be gone before she could
get away from the house, assuming the guard was even willing to let her leave.
She hurried toward the back door, lifting a key from its hook as she passed through the kitchen.
Then she was racing out to the walled area behind the house, where the bathhouse was, and the
gardener's toolshed, and the door to the stable, which had its main entrance onto an alley at the
far end of the property. Along one side of the backyard lay a kitchen garden, and there was a door
in the wall, used by the gardener to bring supplies in and carry refuse out.
Gina halted only once, to be sure neither Benet
or the other groom who slept in the stable, nor any of the men-at-arms, were awake. Hearing no
sound of anyone coming to see who was in the garden, she fitted the key into the door and pulled
it open. There was no squeaking of hinges; Dominick's house was beautifully maintained.
Thinking she might need to return in a hurry, Gina left the key in the door, pulling it almost shut
behind her.
She stood in the dark, quiet road until her vision, already adjusted to the night, detected a
movement in the direction Dominick had taken. She set out after him, keeping to the darkest
shadows, being as quiet as she possibly could and praying she wouldn't run into any late-night
carousers.
Chapter Thirteen
The road Dominick had taken slanted slightly upward, leading away from the river. Only a few
people were out so late at night. A couple of drunken men in workers' clothing lurched across the
road ahead of Gina. She halted, worried that she'd have to make a detour around them, thus
possibly losing Dominick, who was moving rapidly through the dark. But Charles kept the town in
good order. A watchman accosted the workers and bundled them off with stern admonitions
about drinking too heavily. Gina waited only a moment or two before hurrying onward to where the
road opened into a large open square in front of the church of St. Peter. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]